However, Mr O'Brien - who is due to leave the HSE this summer - is to see out his term as HSE boss with the backing of Government

Minister Coveney said: "Tony O'Brien can be of most use to the women of Ireland in terms of establishing facts here if he focuses fully in trying to assist in the process the Government is trying to put together."

Simon Coveney calls for a bit of calm. Says they shouldn't shoot first and ask questions later

Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty says that's not good enough, arguing: "People have died without the information that they were entitled to. Somebody - and that person at the head of the organisation which denied them that information - has to be held to account."

And People Before Profit TD Brid Smith has questioned Health Minister Simon Harris' will to hold anyone to account for the controversy.

She said: "I really plead with you to discipline the people who failed to tell you, or else you should resign - it is not credible that you can stand over a situation like that."

The Government is still examining how to best carry out an investigation into the scandal

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